How to Start Your Own Web Design Company

Since the emergence of the internet around two decades ago, there has been a rise in the number of online businesses. With websites and social networking platforms connecting more than a billion people across the globe, it has become easier to reach out to the consumer. One of the most lucrative ventures to start is to start your own web design company.

Why would you to start your own web design company? Well, there are many reasons. One is that many corporations prefer using the services of website designers in lieu of setting up their own sites using content management platforms like WordPress.

Considering the increase in number of businesses going online, finding clients won’t be a problem. Many company owners understand the high level of competition online so they strive to stand out. They do this by ensuring that they have great websites.

Starting a website design company isn’t as difficult as you may think. It only requires sufficient knowledge about building and maintaining a website. Other skills such as programming and coding are an added advantage. So how do you get started?

Develop a business plan

In order to be successful at any business, you need to come up with a comprehensive business plan. This is where you highlight the company’s services, strategies you will use to achieve success, target audience and the capital required. You also need to define the identity and vision of your company.

Ask yourself what the main goal of setting that company is and come up with the short term and long term goals. As for the financial plans, you need to ensure that you have an estimate of the expenses and income.

A good business plan should also cover aspects such as pricing. Coming up with a business plan might seem like a daunting task but considering its benefits, it is advisable to start with it.

Focus on building your team

It will be very difficult for your web design company to succeed when you try to do everything by yourself. It can’t be a one man company. This means you have to look for web designers.

Don’t just recruit anyone who claims to have some basic web design skills because you will regret later. Look for people who are good at what they do.

If your budget is low, you can always outsource. Find web designers who can work remotely for some time then recruit them to the team permanently when the company becomes stable.

It is also wise to connect with other people who offer services related to design. Reach out to photographers, content creators, videographers, social media managers and public relations officers. These are some of the people who you can partner with and in the process attract more clients.

Acquire the necessary tools

This is a crucial step. Ensue that you acquire the necessary tools for your work. You need good computers, printers and scanners. Sometimes you will need to take photos and it is better to invest to invest in a good camera than use your smartphone. Quality matters.

Web design software are available on the internet. Many of them offer a 30-day trial so you can access their services for free. If you have the money, you can buy them and enjoy their services for a longer time. You also need to backup your data.

As you think about the tools, keep in mind that you will need to secure a workspace. Apart from computers and printers, the workspace will need furniture, stationery and other essential supplies.

Build your company website

When you already have a team of fantastic website designers, develop the company website. Built the website in such a way that it showcases your team’s prowess in web-design and development.

The layout of the site, colours and fonts have to look really good. You don’t want a prospective client taking one look at your website and moving on to look for another web designer. Your website should contain a list of services you offer, contact information and testimonials.

Remember to include a portfolio of your previous work in your website. If you don’t have any work to show, look around you- institution such as schools and non-profit organizations might need their websites designed or redesigned.

You can do this at a reduced price just so you get a something to add to your portfolio. If you have great samples, you will definitely attract your target audience.

Accounting systems, finance and regulations

Since you are setting up the startup as an LLC, a sole proprietor or a corporation, you will need to abide by the country’s laws. Get the necessary license, insurance and permits.

Finance and accounting systems are an important part of any company.

A bookkeeping software, for instance, would be a useful tool. You also need to open a bank account specifically for your company. It would also be wise to acquire the services of a financial expert to help the company with taxes and other financial issues.

You need to define a procedure for getting paid. Specify which payment method your company uses-be it through online banking platforms like Paypal, cheques or credit cards. Create some rules regarding payment, such as the requirement of a deposit before you begin work on any project.

Market and advertise your company

This is the last step. You are done setting up your company and all you want to do is sell. Your web design company is your brand. What is your unique selling proposition? You must be able to tell the target audience what specific value they can get by working with your company. It has to be something that only your company offers.

Build an online presence to reach out to the online community and provide value in all your posts. You will have to possess a deep knowledge of how your target audience operates, for instance what problems they are currently facing or where they hang out.

By doing this you’re ensuring that your brand reaches out to more prospective clients. Create business cards, brochures, flyers and other material and have them ready when you bump into a potential customer.

As is evident from the above steps, you can start your own web design company without any problem. Careful planning is all that is required to get you from the first to the last step. Once you have completed these steps, you can sit back and wait to reap the benefits.

Author Bio

Tom Koh is widely recognised as a leading SEO consultant in Asia who has worked to transform the online visibility of the leading organisations such as SingTel, Capitaland, Maybank, P&G, WWF, etc. Recently he was instrumental in consulting for a New York-based US$30B fund in an US$4Bn acquisition. Tom is a Computational Science graduate of the National University of Singapore. In his free time he performs pro-bono community work and traveling. Google+